FOSS Debates, Part 2: Standard Deviations

WEBINAR:On-Demand

"This is the second installment in a three-part series. Part 1
outlines the discussions that surround the evolution of the Linux
kernel. Part 2 takes a look at the current state of opinions on the
standardization process.

"When Microsoft More about Microsoft won its bid to make Office
Open XML an international standard last year, it was a pivotal
moment for many in the FOSS community and beyond.

"The process had been a highly contentious one, with protests
from nations and corporations around the globe, and the
International Organization for Standardization's (ISO's) final
decision was met with considerable shock, disbelief and even
outrage on the part of some.

"Cynicism on the topic persists to this day, and debates can
still be heard on the question of whether the standardization
process is fundamentally broken. At the heart of it all lies one
central question: Have standards become nothing more than a way to
achieve vendor lock-in, or does openness still stand a fighting
chance?"